FCC Now Mandates Tracking ID’s In ALL Cell Phones
A stunning revelation tonight from CBS News with Scott Pelley who said,
“Your cell phone will soon be a lot less appealing to a thief. The cell phone carriers reached an agreement today with the FCC to make it impossible to use a stolen phone. They’re going to set up a database of ID numbers for EVERY cell phone so the phone can be disabled when they are reported stolen.”
I have a stupid question, why does the FCC, the Federal Communications Commission (a branch of the U.S. government), give a $h!t if your cell phone is stolen. Seriously. Especially to the extent at which they are mandating a unique ID tracking number for every single cell phone that there is?
When I heard this brief news segment tonight, I nearly fell out of my chair while seeing right through the supposed rationale of establishing a new database of unique tracking ID’s for all cell phones (to help prevent theft), or ‘just in case they are stolen’. Last I knew, cell phones had their own phone numbers anyway… What’s up with the additional database?
I don’t know about you, but giving ‘big brother’ the kill switch to my phone seems over the top. Sure, they say it’s all for our own good and they will only use it if the cell phone is stolen – but why not leave the issue of stolen phones to the cell phone carrier, or the individual who owns it… why involve the government?
While the NSA clearly is recording all cell phone conversations anyway (check out the new Utah Spy Center), the new FCC mandate for a new database that tracks all cell phone ID’s will entirely close the loop between the words spoken on a cell phone, and the owner thereof.
While many folks may not be concerned with the fact that their government is listening, recording and tracking everything they say on their cell phones, the fact is that this is a serious blow to the privacy and liberty that we once had as Americans.
What’s next? A government kill-switch mandate for all vehicles, just in case one is stolen? How would you feel about some politician having control over that? Next thing you know they will be shutting down your vehicle if you’re late paying your taxes… Freedoms are removed incrementally – and they’ve done plenty of that lately.
Thomas Jefferson is no doubt turning over in his grave tonight.
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Maybe stick to prepaid throwaway phones?
This is interesting too.
http://consumerist.com/2012/04/heres-how-much-law-enforcement-has-to-pay-to-snoop-on-your-calls.html
Stop being a drama queen.
To quote another article on it:-
“The four major wireless providers in the United States have partnered with the Federal Communications Commission in an effort to curb cell phone theft…. The wireless companies will build a central database of stolen cell phones, which will track phones that are reported as lost or stolen and deny them voice and data service.
If its stolen, then now all the networks will share the IMEI so it cant be activated on any other US network, reducing the appeal of theft. They dont start tracking it until it is stolen. No new numbers are created. they are simply pooling information.
Also to quote:-
Verizon Wireless and Sprint currently block phones that are reported stolen from being reactivated. AT&T and T-Mobile do not.
2 networks already do it. Where was your outrage then?
@BM, the issue is, why get the government involved. IMO we need less government involvement in our lives, not more. Leave the issue of stolen cell phones to the cell carriers and the individual.
I wonder how many folks would be Ok with a government ‘kill-switch’ in all new vehicles (just in case one is stolen of course). It’s the notion of government meddling in our lives that bothers me. It’s the libertarian leanings in me I suppose…
Exactly. This should only be an issue for the cell phone providers whose customers are being victimized. I can’t help but wonder what methods hackers will come up with to overcome this sort of thing.
Oh Fun, May I Please Pay You Thurs. for a Smart phone Today? More and more folks are buying the very item that once cost G2-$-to sneak about and tag our lives. You know they have it down when they can flip it and get you to bug yourself. T.J.’s bin spinning in His grave so fast and furious that soon there won’t be a T. J. bit to turn over. Oy vey…
Boycott all things not made in U.S.A, by the side of the righteous. That is to say stop buying Corporate unless they are fighting for your heath and safety… Survive-All…
…so what happens if you and a buddy trade phones & trade numbers. I guess that could get a little bit awkward, for tracking and all
Hate to tell you this but your phone already has a unique ID on it. How else would they be able to keep people off the system who are not paying customers? You already could report the phone as being stolen to your provider, so the only thing new here is that apparently the providers are now sharing the information so the stolen phone could not be used on another network.
Yes, of course, cell phones have unique ID’s, just like nearly every other electronic device that can network. The thing that got me is the ‘apparent’ creation of a new government database, and the ‘apparent’ ability for (the gov’t agency?) to shut them off. If this is incorrect, I will be happy to discover it and be corrected. The proper place for all this lies in the hands of the cell carrier. Perhaps the CBS report was misleading?
I wonder if this is why Verizon keeps calling me trying to get me to upgrade from my ye olde talk & text only phone to a smart phone? It went from emails, to txts & now actual phone calls made by a representative. They just can’t comprehend that I have no desire to have a smart phone right now. I have an iPod Touch that can go off line for anything “smart” I wanna do. I don’t need further distractions in my life.
This just makes me wanna keep the old model for longer. Also my mom’s ’89 car too.
Wi-Fi only tablets do not have an IMEI number. They also offer TOR, GPG, Encrypted IM, and many more features are available to the technically adept (or those who follow instructions well) if the device is rooted. You can even alter your MAC address so it is different every time you connect. If you’re worried about it, buy a tablet for all your smartphoney things and use burners to talk. Even if you’re not worried about it, know the risks involved, and remember that a phone can always have its battery pulled (unless you have an iPhone, Droid MAXX, or one of the other few that don’t come with a user changeable battery) to trade lack of connectivity for removal of tracking.
That’s something that I bet a-lot of folks don’t know, is that unless their cell phone battery is pulled, they ‘could be’ being tracked. Thanks for that reminder.
Pretty sure most cell phones already have that. i know my old t-mobile phone had it, its called IMEI. i have a government paid phone now [assurance wireless] makes me wonder even more…